Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Hello lovelies! It's time for another shopping haul! During my wonderful mid-winter trip to SoCal to visit my sister, I actually got to enjoy myself and spend time connecting with good friends and, of course, do a bit of retail therapy. Last time I visited California was my very first time to the west coast and there was seriously too much to see and too many people to meet so I feel very fortunate to have experienced Cali both ways: LA-busy and SoCal laid back.

Did I mention that I got to avoid the snow and freezing temperatures back at home? ;)

So one of my very favorite items that I purchased in my haul was the Longchamp Le Pliage large tote in Cyclamen which is a cute pink color which also happens to exactly match the shade of my laptop cover!

I have been searching high and low for a quality travel bag that is sturdy yet lightweight that can also stow my laptop in for travel. It fits my 15" Macbook Pro quite exactly so if you have a larger laptop, you may want to test it out to see if it fits. Since I absolutely hate asking for help with overhead bins on airplanes, this fits my requirements exactly!

I know a lot of my classy friends have Longchamps as well (see Jean's in black and navy) and I spotted them on every other woman in Paris but nobody wears them where I live. I'll have to stalk sales times to see if I can get the sturdier Planetes Jean has too!

This bag was a huge lifesaver on my flight back since I *cough* brought back more than I left with. XD

I hope you enjoyed the haul and I have one last question! Do ladies in your area wear Longchamps? What is the most common purse or bag brands you see locally? I'm just curious since every city I visit seems to be different! Let me know in the comments. :)

60 comments:

that is a cute colour. every girl on my college campus (in st. louis) has one, which makes me want to avoid longchamps just because they're not unique/hipster enough lol. i'm worried about the lack of padding for my laptop but like that it's roomy and weather-resistant

I'm surprised to know that not many people have those Longchamp bags were you live. They were REALLY popular here (Montreal) like... 3-4 years ago? Everyone and their mom (and their grandma) had one! And they are already starting to be less popular!

I have a cleansing scrubber I also bought at an asian market and it is amazing. It really makes your skin feel super smooth and exfoliated. It's also good on the lips. I use it in the shower so the steam opens my pores and I found after a week (or so) using the scrubber, my pores looked a lot smaller - probably because it cleans so well. Paired with a great cleanser, it really improved the overall appearance of my skin. :D Hope you have the same results jen!

Congrats on your purse!! Every girl, and I do mean EVERY girl, should have a throw-everything-in-there tote that's practical and chic, and I've always considered the Le Pliage purses to be exactly that.

In my area, I see a LOT of Coach. Longchamps is actually a slightly rarer sight among the designer handbags, which is a shame because it's such a versatile little purse. It also seems like everyone and their mom (ESPECIALLY the Asians) has a Louis Vuitton Neverfull....except for me. ;_;

.....though I may or may not have just traded an arm for a Panarea.....

I LOVEE my longchamp for everyday use but even more so whenever I fly. It is such a great way to cheat the carry-on system! I've had mine since last July and have used it every single day since. It shows almost no signs of wear! Another thing that's amazing about it is that it's totally waterproof -- or at least rain proof. Definitely the best value for the $ I think. Beforehand I was spending $30 to buy cheap tote bags that would literally fall apart in 1 month so I'm sooo glad I decided to splurge on my longchamp bag :)

EVERYONE has a Le Pliage bag here (NYC). I hate them, actually XD I think they're hideous, and while they may be great for travel, I'm pretty sure most people with them don't actually buy them because you can fold them up and stuff it in your suitcase. Especially the ones who have the little tiny handbag-sized ones. Those are so pointless.

Oh that's so funny to me! I actually didn't realize that they were such a "trend" purse since they are rather boring in design. It's so, so perfect for travel though and I specifically bought it for that reason. Funny how trends work. :)

I own one in pink! (Yes pink!! haha) A lot of college/university students in Montreal owns one and the colours that I mostly see are black, navy, brown.. They're maybe not the most original bags but I love how it's lightweight, waterproof and it carries all my books :) I've been using mine for about a year and a half now for school or traveling :D But I love the color that you got!

I just ordered that DHC cleanser after receiving a sample in the mail! I also got a few other DHC products to pair with it. I am very excited to try it all out!

Great travel bag! I see Longchamps on so many blogs, but I can't remember ever seeing one in Vegas! At least not this past year now that I am aware they even exist! I usually see a lot of Louis Vuitton purses...but I just assume 50% of them are fake!

When I was in high school a few years ago, every single one of the "popular" girls had Longchamp bags. They're fashionable in my hometown/area with the people who have money. I have seen them around in my college town (Halifax), but definitely not as many as I see back home! Back home I definitely see a lot of Coach, though. I think the Coach Outlet near my house may have something to do with that though! :)

sooooo many girls at my college have a Longchamp! I think they look very nice and stylish, but what's awkward about them is that the bag's cloth is so thin that if you have something moderately heavy in it, you can see the outline of it, which is something I don't like. I see girls with the really big Longchamp as their school bag, which then makes it look very weird when it's stuffed to the absolute max...

Where I'm from, every girl has a Coach bag because it's fairly cheap and there's an outlet store nearby that has great sales. In Taiwan, the LV Neverfull is the "it" bag...or maybe the "Asian bag" because too many Asian girls have one.

Longchamps seem to be a very preppy bag choice! I go to a college prep school, and all of the wealthier/preppier girls have those bags :] And when I visited Boston College (very much a post-prep school scene), all of the girls had Longchamps!

Longchamp totes started to get popular in high school for me (which was about 7 years ago, in NYC). I wanted one then, but everyone started to get one and I saw no appeal to it anymore. :(

The Longchamp tote definitely is great for travel and very classy looking! And that pink is such a great color!

Right now, I use LeSportSac tote. It's cheaper and comes in fruity patterns, but it serves its purpose -- carrying my laptop. I like that it doesn't lose its shape with stuff like books and laptop. I'm not sure how the padding compares to Longchamp (it's probably not as good). However, I see some women with really droopy Longchamp totes. I'm not sure if they have a fake bag or if they have really heavy stuff in the bag. It just doesn't seem to hold shape. =\

nice haul, I have a large Longchamp travel bag too, it's no doubt a lifesaver for traveling!!! I'm from SoCal and I see people carry a Longchamp in the mall from time to time, in different sizes. Have you try Origins' Clean Energy Cleansing oil? It's also super super good, it takes off every makeup on the face and is gentle enough for sensitive skin!♥

In KUL, lots of women (teens, moms, grandmoms) carry Longchamps. I have them in different sizes too.. Coach is really popular as well. .. Louis Vuitton, Gucci are 'basics' and Chanel is a bit more upmarket.

Hi Jen! I am soooo glad I found your blog! Even Kelly and Jean are bigger than I am, so I am happy to see a blogger who is closer to my size!

Bahahahaa, that Longchamp bag is like a must-have for sorority girls. But they are so versatile and cute that I got one anyway when I was in Hong Kong. I also got mine because it was a limited edition lilac color... haha. I actually regret not getting the large like the one you have, since I thought it overwhelmed my 4'9" frame. But now I can only sigh when I want to fit my 13" macbook into it. I love Nordstrom's shoe section so much. I wear size 1-2 kids and size 3-4 women, so when I went into Nordstrom to get boots, I wasn't expecting much. But my cute little SA came out grinning while carrying a mountain of boots all in size 4. Some ran really small so they fit SO perfectly. It was amazing.

One quick question though. I have been searching for your measurements since I wanted to gauge how clothes might fit on me based on how they look on you, but I wasn't able to find them anywhere. If you don't mind, would it possible for you to post them please? I am 4'9" and 90 lbs (skinny upper body and muscular lower body), so I hesitate while online shopping, which I unfortunately love to do. Well, I am mainly asking because I have my eyes on two Forever 21 strapless dresses that have the following measurements: 24" length from bust to hem, 25" chest, 23" waist; 25" length from bust to hem, 27" chest, 24" waist. The chest and waist should fit, but I am more concerned about where the length would hit. I would really really appreciate the help!!!

P.S. Oops, I accidentally commented as a response to an earlier post. Idk how that happened. But that's why there is a deleted comment up there.

Hi Alice! Actually Kelly and I are the same height and have very similar torsos, but I'm narrower in the hips/booty than her so I actually think that her fashion should generally work very well for you!

I think our (you and I) feet are about the same size though, which is helpful! As for the dresses, I'm not sure as I'd have to try them on in person to see. Feel free to e-mail me if you want more info. ;)

Well here in France Longchamp handbags are pretty common, both on very classical ladies and teenage girls, but I see them quite often also in Germany (where my boyfriend lives). All of their collections are great, and the Pliage is my favorite. I have several of them, mostly smaller than yours because I try to limit the weight of my handbag :) And they're also much cheaper here than in the US!

Nice boots!! oh Le Pliage bag, yes, here in the Philippines, it's everywhere..every girl i see in the city has it. and i dislike it a little 'coz some women use it and buy it just because it's the trend. rawr..but yes i agree..the bag is very useful for travel. Most bags that i see here are Chloe's Paraty and Givenchy's Pandora.

what a fun post. i really love watching haul videos, haha. great purchases too. i would really like to buy a large sized longchamp bag (although probably in black). i am also really curious to see how the fiber double eyelid stuff works. could you do a review/tutorial with it? i would be really excited to see. also i hope the foot peel works well for your mom!

i've considered getting a longchamp bag myself. but i want a particular one, the one w/the effiel tower! it seems like its really hard to find one. i have looked on ebay but its ridiculous prices for them! :/ hopefully i'll get my hands on the one..oneday :)

I live a metropolitan area and have noticed that women who carry Longchamp bags are either in college or they're a more mature age. I don't really see women in their 20's carrying these bags. Longchamps are definitely practical for travel, you would be able to fit a lot of make-up in your carry on! :)

Haha Every girls in my friend group have one in different colors even we already have quite a lot of bag. It's just big, brand name ( woo hoo!), classy design and easy to carry all around. I use it to carry all my stuffs when I go to uni (i'm a fashion student), go to work with camera and make up kit, and shopping as well :)

I've heard mixed reviews on BabyFoot. Some people say that it really worked but a couple of others have said that it did nothing for them. I personally haven't tried it but I've been thinking about it.

I use Mezaik Double Eyelid Stretch Fiber although I have tried AB Mezical Fiber. They are both actually very similar. I really love it and it does help me create a nice crease. Make sure that your eyelids are absolutely clean and no oils before applying it. So far the only eyelid primer that I've found will not affect it is Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, but you have be very light handed and apply very little, especially over the fiber. I haven't been able to find any cream eyeshadow that will work with it. It always makes the fiber become visible and lift off.

I live in So-Cal and I tend to see alot of Michael Kors and LV. But I tend to see more Longchamps in NY, SF, and Boston. I'm from NY and I started carrying them during college. They are great bags and have lasted me for over a decade.

Aww you talking about South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island makes me nostalgic for my college years. I went to UCI so I went to those two places all the time. I live in LA now and Century City Mall, the Grove, Melrose < South Coast and Metro Pointe. That Nordstrom Rack is the best! It sounds like you had a great trip and I am glad you had shopping success!

Longchamp bags are all over east coast college campuses and prep schools but I love the color that you got. It's very bright and eye catching. I feel like longchamp bags, sheepskin boots and fleeces are quintessential college attire during the winter.

I've been wanting a Longchamp bag for a long time! I've seen other people carry them, but they always look like they'll be too big on me :S I'm 5 ft. Glad you found one in a good size! Are all Longchamp bags foldable like that, or do they make ones in that size that are non-foldable too? I want a navy blue one hehe

Hi! I have a navy blue one and the Le Pliage comes in three sizes, with short/long handles, whichever you prefer. I have a medium bag with long handles and I LOVE IT! :) It's super durable and as what Jen said, it too has served me well during long flights. You might look into the Planetes line, which is non-foldable. :)

that longchamp bag is suuuper popular where i live. but i totally agree on its sturdiness--definitely love the quality and how it can take carrying all my law books around. mine is a dark brown color which i love.

Hi Jen. This is my first time commenting, but I subscribe to your blog and youtube channel. Anyways, I've tried something similar to the Baby Foot Easy Pack, but mine was by Actizen. It worked really well for me. My feet felt so soft and smooth after all the skin peeled off. It's managed to remove all the dry cracked heel syndrome that I had been developing. Hope this one works equally well for your mom :) Btw, Longchamp Le Pliage is rampant in Malaysia. As is Coach.

We love the socal weather here! Always so nice. It's 82 degrees today! We sell a lot of similar Japanese cosmetic products to Mitsuwa so if people from the East Coast or anywhere in the U.S. are looking for Japanese products, check out our website! (www.webichi.com)

I love the color of the bag you got! I'm in Illinois and I don't too many of these either. I bet you're missing the SoCal weather right about now.. It's snowing in Chicago today. Not sure where you are, but bet it's colder than your sister's weather!! :)

Here in KC, I see lots of Coach bags....but then again, Kansas City is a great place, but not exactly the most fashion forward. :) My personal faves for toting things around are the Marc Jacobs Pretty Nylon Totes. I have several, and love the seasonal patterns, colors, and selection of sizes. I AM jealous of your Longchamp's zipper-top, though. MJ could learn something there. Also, the foldability(is that a word?!) and color are perfect. Enjoy your fun purchases....I plan to do some damage in Chicago soon!